Telangana: Medics afraid of contracting virus due to lack of protective gears

Hyderabad: Doctors working in non-Covid-19 designated government hospitals are a worried lot. They are seeking an explanation from the government on why medics working in outpatient, inpatient and other wards are not being provided with basic equipment to protect themselves from possible exposure to Coronavirus infection.

“This is worrisome. We keep asking for basic protection gear such as N-95 masks, goggles or face shields, head covers, and gloves but we are told we do not need them,” a doctor told Deccan Chronicle. “All we want is that the government adhere to its own guidelines which clearly state protection gear is required for medical personnel working in OP and IP departments,” the doctor said.

Healthcare personnel working in non-Covid-19 government hospitals fear they are being exposed to asymptomatic coronavirus carriers.

While there have been instances of medical professionals in the state getting infected with coronavirus, such cases have not been talked about much by the government.

The latest instance of a patient admitted to Osmania General Hospital (OGH) for general surgery and later found to be Covid-19 positive, have renewed calls from doctors that the government supply them with protective equipment.

The latest case pertains to a man who was admitted to OGH for a surgical amputation on his lower left limb two days ago. Samples were collected from him and sent for testing and the patient tested positive on Thursday, it was learnt. “It is instances like these among outpatient and inpatient wards that are a serious cause for concern,” a doctor said.

The doctors said that they were unable to understand government’s reluctance to provide them with protective gear. “In fact, until last week, doctors in Niloufer and other government hospitals were provided with PPEs designed to wear while treating AIDS patients and not Covid-19 patients. It was after repeatedly bringing this to the notice of the health department officials that finally, the situation improved,” a post-graduate medical student said.